The Effect of Traffic Congestion on Commuter’s Psychology in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Transport and traffic psychology (TTP) is a new increasing area in transport studies. Traffic psychology is the study of the conduct of commuters and the strain tactics underlying that conduct and additionally the connection among traffic and conduct, and in most cases called mobility psychology. Traffic congestion is not an uncommon problem in Nigerian cities with greater emphasis in Lagos. The study was carried out in Lagos that is latently said to have 21million human populace making it the biggest town in Africa. Attention was drawn in five (5) selected famous bus-stops, Oshodi, Ojota, Ojuelegba, Mile 2 and Obalende in Lagos metropolis. The study sampled twenty (20) commuters in each bus-stop at intervals. The commuters were randomly selected at every bus terminal. Three psychological variables were associated with traffic congestion, that’s, body fitness, mood and behaviour. Descriptive statistics were employed. The result revealed high percentages of the effect of traffic congestion on the respondents’ body, mood and behaviours of commuters as body pain, headache, sleeplessness and fatigue on the respondents’ body, anxiety, anger, restlessness and depression on respondents’ mood while angry outburst, drug abuse, social withdrawal and tobacco use were associated to behaviour. These have been a common practice on Lagos routes. The study concluded that, traffic congestion has effect on commuter’s body fitness, mood and behaviors. The authorities of Lagos need to do more of traffic congestion management and control, sufficient provision of towing vehicles, intensify traffic congestion broadcast and counseling and rehabilitation programs. Severe traffic offenders need to be positioned in justice.